Steam and water conducting systems



April 23, 1957 HANS-MARTIN PAPE 2,789,770

STEAM AND WATER CONDUCTING SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 23, 1951 INVENTOR. Hans "Na/tin Pa ne.

BY ULJMLW A TTOQNE f5.

United States Patent C) STEAM AND WATER CONDUCTING SYSTEMS Hans-Martin Pape, Bremen, Germany, assignor to Gustav F. Ger-sits, K. G., Bremen, Germany, a corporation Application August 23, 1951, Serial No. 243,343

12 Claims. (Cl. 237-67) This invention relates to a system for circulating steam and water and refers more particularly to a device for the removal of steam and water.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a steam circulating system, which will avoid corrosion of the various component parts of such systems.

in prior art attempts were made to eliminate corrosion by continuously adding oil to the steam. This had the drawback that some of the oil was deposited on heating surfaces whereby the output of the system was greatly diminished. Another drawback was that the outflowing water was mixed with oil to such an extent that it could not be returned to the boiler. One of the important objects of the present invention is to eliminate these drawbacks of prior art constructions. i

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention it was found advisable to provide a circulating system for steam and condensed water wherein a separate blow-E check valve is located at the place or places wherewater flows out of the conduit system, and possibly in other localities where the conduits are in touch with atmospheric air, with the result that whenever sub-atmospheric pressure is created within the system, the system will be cut off from atmospheric air. In accordance with another feature of the present invention these blow-off check valves are connected with weights, springs and similar devices, so that so long as the system is being operated, namely, so long as water is circulated, such an amount of dynamic pressure is created within the discharge pipe, that the discharge pipe is filled completely with water or possibly with steam created as a result of subsequent evaporation, thereby preventing the penetration of air into the upper parts of the steam conduits which otherwise could take place due to the fact that the valves are opened by the condensed water.

in accordance with still another feature of the present in 'ention, the penetration of air into the system through leakages as a result of sub-atmospheric pressure is effectively prevented by the provision of one or more inlet check valves through which a gas which does not facilitate corrosion or a mixture of air and an anti-corrosion gas, is caused to flow into the system. In this construction these inlet check valves may be combined with a blow-off check valve used to stop the admission of atmospheric air into a single construction unit.

This invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

The drawing is a diagram showing a system for conducting steam and water, constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

The drawing illustrates a conduit which transmits steam from a device which is not illustrated. A steam flowing through the conduit 10 is introduced into a heat exchanger 11 which may be a boiler or a cooker. The

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conduit 10 is provided with a valve 12 and a nozzle 13.

The steam is introduced into the heat exchanger 11 through a coil 14 which leads into a separator 15, in which steam is separated from water. A pipe 16 leads to a container 17. The container 17 is connected through an outflow pipe 18, which communicates with the atmosphere, with a container 19, serving for the collection of condensate. A blow-oft" check valve 20 is located within the outflow pipe 18 and is connected with a weight 21 in such manner that it remains in a closed position until water in the outflow pipe 18 reaches a predetermined level. As shown in the drawing steam trap 22 forms a part of the pipe 16 leading to the heat exchanger 11. Steam traps 23 and 24 lead to similar devices. The outer end of the container 17 carries an inlet check valve 25 which is connected with an air purifier 26 leading to atmospheric air. The check valve 25 is of the usual type and is closed by the pressure of the condensate flowing out of the container 17, but is opened by outside pressure or by the pressure of anti-corrosion gas flowing through the injection device 28 when sub-atmosphericpressure is formed in the system.

Air purifier 26 is of the type well know in the art and consists, for example, of a container filled with metal shavings immersed in oil which catches the dust particles in the air. Check valves 20 and 25 are located behind valves or steam traps 22, 23 and 24. Thus, with the exception of flash steam no other steam can reach the check valves 20 and 25, and no steam can escape so long as the container 17 operates properly. Its operation can be adjusted by manipulating control devices 2%, 30 and 31.

it is apparent that whenever sub-atmospheric pressure is created in the system, that is, after the closing of the valve 2%, air will be admitted to the container 17 through the valve 25. However, this air before flowing into the system will be thoroughly cleaned in the device 26 and will be mixed with the liquid anti-corrosion substance located within the container 27.

In accordance with the present invention the valve 25 is connected with the injection device 28, so that when air flows through the valve 25 into the container 17, the anti-corrosion liquid will be sucked into the air from the container 27, and will be mixed with the air to form a mist of the type well-known in the art. it is apparent that any anti-corrosion substance, such as oil, may be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The mixture flows into the system since the valve 25 is open and, since the valve 20 is closed by sub-atmospheric pressure, the mixture cannot flow out of the system.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention the penetration of air into the system as a result of sub-atmospheric pressure, is further eliminated by diminishing to a minimum the number of parts which are interconnected with atmospheric air, such as airing devices, air withdrawing devices, water outflowing devices, and the like. Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided the container 17 which receives precipitated water from all users and forwards it to the pipe 18. In the event that the single container 17 cannot be used it is advisable to employ the smallest possible number of such containers. In the example illustrated, the container 17 serves to transmit water from three consumers. namely, the heat exchanger 11 and the consumers 11a; Water flows from the heat exchanger- 11 through the pipe 16 through steam traps or conduits 22, which have the form of a plurality of nozzles located one next to the other. The steam. traps or conduits 23 and 24 are similar in construction to the conduit 22. These nozzle-shaped conduits are used to regulate the outflow of the condensate. Thus,'it is apparent that the container 17 receives water'frorn all the steam consumers and transmits water through a single outflow passage 18. It is further apparent that the container 17 merely transmits the water to the pipe 18, and that it is never filled with water, since the valve 20 opens as soon as the pipe 18 is filled with water. It will be also noted that each of the steam traps or conduits 22, 23 and 24 leading to the steam consumers is provided with three nozzles connected in series with each other.

Of further importance in the operation of this system is the possibility to determine leakages as quickly as possible, and to prevent the sucking-in of large amounts of air into the system through these leakages. There fore, in accordance with the present invention all fittings or as many fittings as possible, such as valves, water conduits, controlling devices, or the like, should be located in one area or in a single'casing. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the valve 12, the three steam traps or conduits 22, 23 and'24, and the devices 29, 3t and 31, which control these conduits, are all arranged in a single control location which can be conveniently examined by an observer. Thus any leakages which may occur in these parts can be quickly eliminated. Air mixed with anti-corrosion means can conveniently pass through the steam traps 22, 23 and 24 and through controlling devices 29, 30 and 31.

In order to divide the anti-corrosion means sucked in along with the air throughout the entire system, and to distribute it therein, it is advantageous to provide strong currents of steam and water in all parts of the system.

When the system is cooled and the steam contained therein is condensed, sub-atmospheric pressure occurs throughout the entire system, so that air flowing through the valve 20 and mixed with anti-corrosion means, will penetrate everywhere where steam has been previously. Thus, all the inner walls of the system will be coated by a thin layer of anti-corrosion means. It is therefore advantageous to provide the heat exchanger 11 with a steam circulating device 13 which is located at the point where the pipe is connected to the heat exchanger 11. The device 13 is connected through pipe 32 with the water separator 15. Thus, the device 13 sucks in through the pipe 32 the steam which was separated from the water in the container 15. This arrangement has the further advantage that it provides for a better utilization of the heating surfaces of the heat exchanger 11. Furthermore, this arrangement speeds up the process as a whole and improves the efliciency of the entire system to a considerable extent.

Furthermore, in order to prevent the possibility of corrosion it is most desirable to prevent formation of a substantial amount of flash steam behind the waterremoving conduits since it results often in the formation of steam bubbles. In accordance with the present invention, this evaporation is avoided by cooling the condensed water which did not as yet expand in a number of heat exchangers, for further use in preheating the operative fluid of the system. Thus, as a result of this arrangement, the heat contents of the precipitated water are utilized prior to the expansion for preheating purposes. In the example illustrated, water which was precipitated in the container and removed from steam, passes through the pipe 33 in the direction of the arrow into a heat exchanger 34' and thence flows through the pipe 16, the control device 29 and the outlet 22 into the container 17, being actuated by steam pressure in the conduit 10. The fluid which is to be heated or boiled in the device 11 is preheated in the heat exchanger 34 in pipes which are not shown in the drawings. This device does not only prevent subsequent evaporation but also has the further advantage that large amounts of heat are utilized within the system.

As already stated, the blow-off check valve is combined with the inlet check valve and the injection 4 device 28 as a single unit. It is apparent that as a result of this arrangement the anti-corrosion fluid is introduced into the system only at the time when it is actually needed, namely when the air which contains the corrosion-producing oxygen penetrates into the system.

The valve is always open so long as the system is under steam in order to enable the condensate to flow out of the valve 20. On the other hand steam will never flow through the valve 20 so long as the nozzles 22, 23 and 24 are properly regulated, particularly since the heat exchanger 11 will provide a variable, but always suflicient amount of condensate.

It is apparent that this device may be substituted by a container (not shown) which holds a gas that is to prevent corrosion, such as nitrogen, the container being combined with means which cause the flow of nitrogen into the system.

It is also possible in some systems to separate the valves 20 and 25, and to arrange them in different parts of the system. This is particularly suitable in systems which occupy a large area and which are elongated in form, as otherwise the anti-corrosion fluid will in such systems not flow through the entire system but will be precipitated along with the water in the container 19.

It is further apparent that the described system effectively avoids the need of using substantial amounts of oil as anti-corrosion liquid in container 27 which otherwise would prevent proper heat exchange in the heating surfaces of the heat exchangers. Furthermore, the described system makes it possible to provide a very fine film of oil upon the heating surfaces of the heat exchangers. This thin coating of oil has the added advantage that water will not flow uniformly over the entire heating surface, thereby interfering with the heat exchange but will remain upon the heating surfaces in the form of separate drops which will flow off the heating surfaces in the form of tiny rivulets, thereby promoting heat exchange to a considerable extent. This advantageous elfect can be further increased when the anti-corrosion fluid is combined with a water repellent or anti-wetting agent, such as silicon (of the type commonly used as automobile polish), which is sucked into the system along with the anti-corrosion fluid.

It is apparent that the provision of a heat exchanger 34 is useful only when there is a requirement for a further supply of heat which maybe covered by the use of the heat from this heat exchanger. There are some systems, however, where no such requirement exists. In accordance with the present invention such systems are improved by the provision of a water separator which is located behind the water conduits. Such a water separator separates the precipitated water from the steam which results from subsequent evaporation. Behind this water separator the steam is condensed and is introduced into the primary steam-containing part of the system. An arrangement of this type is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

It is apparent that the example shown above has been given solely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that it is subject to many variations and modifications without changing the scope of the present invention. It is also apparent that various features of the present invention serve the same purpose, namely the prevention of corrosion of the pipes and devices and the reduction of steam losses. It is apparent that some of the features disclosed'herein can be eliminated without affecting the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A steam and water circulating system, comprising in combination a main steam conduit, steam consumers connected with said steam conduit, a container, condensedwater-conveying outlets extending between said steam consumers and said container, an outlet connected with said container, and communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-oflz' check valve in said outlet andmeans connected ajraan'zo with said blow-ofi check valve and operable by sub-atmos pheric pressure in said outlets and said container for closing the valve.

2. A steam and water circulating system comprising, in combination with at least one steam and water conveying conduit having a portion communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-off check valve at said portion and operable by sub-atmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blowofl check valve and operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve, and means introducing an .anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

3. A steam and water circulating system comprising, in combination with at least one steam and water conveying conduit having a portion communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-01f check valve at said portion and operable by sub-atmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blowotf check valve, and operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve and means introducing a mixture of air and an anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

4. A steam and water circulating system comprising, in combination with a plurality of steam and water conveying conduit having a portion communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-off check valve at said portion and operable by sub-atmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve, a common casing carrying said blow-ofl'f check valve and said inlet check valve, said inlet check valve being operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve, and means introducing said anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

5. A steam and water circulating system, comprising in combination with at least one condensed-water-conveying outlet, an outflow conduit connected with said outlet and communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-ofi check valve within said conduit, and means connected with said blow-oft check valve to close the valve when sub-atmospheric pressure prevails in said outlets, said means exerting a force upon said valve suflicient to fill said outflow conduit with condensed water or steam when condensed water flows through said outlets and conduit.

6. A steam and water circulating system comprising, in combination with at least one steam and water conveying conduit having a portion communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-ofl check valve at said portion and operable by sub-atmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blowoif check valve, an air injector operatively connected with said inlet check valve, and means supplying an anti-corroding fluid to said injector, whereby said fluid is mixed with air by said injector and the mixture is introduced through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

7. A steam and water circulating system comprising, in combination with at least one steam and water conveying conduit having a portion communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-oflf check valve at said portion and operable by sub-atmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blowofl check valve, and operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve and means introducing an anti-corroding fluid and anti-netting means through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

8. A steam and water circulating system, comprising in combination with at least one condensed-water-conveying outlet, a single container connected with said outlet, an outflow conduit connected with said container and communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-off check valve within said conduit and operable by subatmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blow-ofi check valve and operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve and means introducing an anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

9. A steam and water circulating system, comprising in combination with at least one condensed-water-conveying outlet, said outlet having a plurality of nozzles located therein adjacent to said container, said nozzles having permanent cross-sectional areas, an outflow conduit connected with said container and communicating with the atmosphere, a bloW-ofi check valve within said conduit and operable by sub-atmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blow-ofl check valve, means operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve, and means introducing an anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

10. A steam and water circulating system, comprising in combination with at least one main steam conduit, a heat exchanger connected with said main conduit, a valve carried by said main conduit, a condensed-water-conveying outlet connected with said heat exchanger, a control instrument carried by said outlet, said valve, said outlet and said instrument being located closely to each other and substantially upon the same level to facilitate control thereof, an outflow conduit connected with said outlet and communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-ofl check valve within said conduit and operable by subatmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blow-ofl check valve and operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for open ing said inlet check valve, and means introducing an anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

11. A steam and water circulating system, comprising in combination with at least one main steam conduit, a heat exchanger, a second auxiliary heat exchanger connected in series with the first-mentioned heat exchanger to cool non-expanded condensed water emerging from the first-mentioned heat exchanger, a condensed-waterconveying outlet connected with said second auxiliary heat exchanger, an outflow conduit connected with said outlet and communicating with the atmosphere, a blowotf check valve within said conduit and operable by subatmospheric pressure within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blow-01f check valve and operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve, and means introducing an anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

12. A steam and water circulating system, comprising in combination with at least one main steam conduit, a heat exchanger, a second auxilary heat exchanger connected in series with the first-mentioned heat exchanger to cool non-expanded condensed water emerging from the first-mentioned heat exchanger, means transmitting heat liberated by the second auxilary heat exchanger to the first-mentioned heat exchanger, a condensed-water-conveying outlet connected with said second auxiliary heat exchanger, an outflow conduit connected with said outlet and communicating with the atmosphere, a blow-01f check valve within said conduit and operable by sub-atmospheric pressure Within said conduits for closing the valve, an inlet check valve adjacent to said blow-oft check valve and operable by said sub-atmospheric pressure for opening said inlet check valve, and means introducing an anti-corroding fluid through said inlet check valve when the latter is open.

Webster Dec. 9, 1902 Miersbe May 19, 1931 (Other references on following page) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS Rosenblad June 27, 1933 Brooks May 19, 1936 Bublitz Mar. 9, 1937 Harlow Dec. 17, 1946 Schaub Dec. 5, 1950 Carson Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN'PATENTS 473,896 Switzerland May 1, 1917 285,526 Germany July 6, 1915 OTHER REFERENCES- Corrosion Causes and Prevention, by Frank N; Spellers, third edition,;p.ublished by McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1951, pp. 494 and 495; 

